asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the plans that are being considered for the development of the telephone service in the north-west of the country including the Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Claremorris and Athlone areas.

Current plans for the areas concerned provide for the conversion to automatic working of 29 exchanges in County Donegal, including Letterkenny, ten in County Leitrim, including Carrick-on-Shannon, four in County Sligo, and Claremorris. Extensions to the existing trunk switching exchanges at Athlone and Sligo will be completed this year and plans are going ahead for major new buildings and new trunk switching exchanges at both places. Additional switchboards will be provided at Athlone, Donegal, Carrick-on-Shannon, Buncrana and over 25 other exchanges. Trunk schemes contracted for include Letterkenny to Dungloe, Donegal to Killybegs and Sligo to Manorhamilton and Enniskillen.